So for one of the few times in his Florida State career, EJ Manuel showed a burst of emotion.

Just a few moments earlier, Manuel and Florida State's offense had taken possession of the ball at their own 32-yard line with 2:13 remaining. After leading all game, the Seminoles suddenly were trailing 22-20.

The situation appeared dire. A loss here, against a Virginia Tech team with a losing record, would likely mean that Florida State would miss out on another chance to play for an ACC championship. And the disappointment would have felt all-too-familiar, coming just four weeks after a second-half collapse at N.C. State.

Three plays later, the Seminoles had to convert a fourth-and-1 just to keep the drive alive. James Wilder Jr. got the first down, but only with second effort.

Then Manuel did what he has done so many times before in practice - and a handful of times in games. He hit junior receiver Greg Dent for a 13-yard completion down to the Virginia Tech 39-yard line. Two plays later, he connected with sophomore receiver Rashad Greene on a crossing route that would go 39 yards for a touchdown.

There was still time on the clock - 40 seconds to be exact, after Manuel hit sophomore tight end Nick O'Leary for a two-point conversion to give the Seminoles a 28-22 lead. But on a night when he was asked to carry so much of the offensive load on his back, Manuel could finally exhale. So the senior quarterback thrust both of his hands up into the frigid air, toward the pitch-black sky, and unleashed a celebratory smile as wide as the field at Lane Stadium.

Moments like this don't happen very often.

So Bruce Smith, the NFL Hall-of-Fame pass-rusher who grew up in Norfolk, Va., and is close friends with Manuel's father, pulled out his phone and snapped a photo of the young man he has mentored for so many years.

Smith had every reason to be disappointed with what had just transpired. He is perhaps the greatest player in Virginia Tech history, and his son Alston is a freshman defensive tackle on the Hokies' roster. But he certainly understood what EJ Manuel had just accomplished. On a night when the Hokies blitzed relentlessly and were determined to not let Florida State run the football, Manuel threw for 326 yards on 25-of-42 passing.

FSU coach Jimbo Fisher had decided early in the game that the Seminoles were going to live or die by the pass. There were no alternatives.

And that approach wasn't pretty. Manuel took a bunch of sacks. He missed some throws. And the grass stains on his white jersey told the story of the beating he had taken.

But he won the game. He persevered. And no one in this stadium understood what that means more than a man who set the NFL record for quarterback sacks.

So as Manuel did a television interview on the field after the game, Smith felt compelled to capture the moment.

"This was a win-win," Smith said. "I couldn't be happier for him."

Smith then texted the photo to Manuel Sr., who beamed with pride after watching his son come back home - playing in the state of Virginia for the first time in college - and rally his team.

"This is huge," Manuel Sr. said. "I can't even explain it. I'm just happy for EJ. He wanted this. He got beat up, but that's part of football. I guess getting beat up is worth it if you get the 'W.'"

Moments earlier, Fisher appeared to get choked up when talking about Manuel's performance. The coach talked about his quarterback's character and toughness. His resiliency and determination.

He then was asked what he said to Manuel after the winning score.

"I told him I loved him," Fisher said. "I told him this is why I do what I do. This is why I push him like I do."

And Manuel returned the favor. "I thanked him. Told him I loved him. Coach Fisher is a hard coach, but times like this is when you see all the hard work and all the hard coaching pay off."

Manuel talked about how happy he was for his teammates and coaches. How excited that they are to be one step closer to a trip to the ACC championship game.

Manuel celebrated because he knows as well as anyone ... moments like these don't happen very often.

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Schoffel column: Manuel enjoys his special moment

Moments like this don't happen very often. So for one of the few times in his Florida State career, EJ Manuel showed a burst of emotion.